Proverbs 24:10-20

10 If thou art slack in the day of tribulation, thy strength shall be reduced.

11 If thou forbear to deliver those that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be slain,

12 if thou should say, Behold, we knew it not; shall not he that weighs the hearts understand it? and he that keeps thy soul, does he not know it? and shall he not render to every man according to his works?

13 My son, eat of the honey, because it is good, and of the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: if thou shalt find it, and in the end thy hope shall not be cut off.

15 Do not lay in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not spoil his resting place.

16 For a just man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked shall fall into evil.

17 Do not rejoice when thy enemy falls, and do not let thy heart be glad when he stumbles

18 lest the LORD see it and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Do not meddle with those who are evil, neither be envious of the wicked;

20 for the evil man shall not come to a good end; the fire of the wicked shall be put out.

Proverbs 24:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 12

This chapter relates Rehoboam's going to Shechem to be made king, and Jeroboam's return from Egypt, 1Ki 12:1,2, the people's request to Rehoboam to be eased of their taxes, as the condition of making him king, 1Ki 12:3,4, his answer to them, after three days, having had the advice both of the old and young men, which latter he followed, and gave in a rough answer, 1Ki 12:5-15, upon which ten tribes revolted from him, and two abode by him, 1Ki 12:16-20, wherefore he meditated a war against the ten tribes, but was forbid by the Lord to engage in it, 1Ki 12:21-24 and Jeroboam, in order to establish his kingdom, and preserve the people from a revolt to the house of David, because of the temple worship at Jerusalem, devised a scheme of idolatrous worship in his own territories, 1Ki 12:25-33.